The A Street Fight: Standing Up for Safety and Livability
The A Street Project would replace affordable homes with an 8-story, 180-unit tower—five stories higher than our community plan allows and with only 4% affordable housing. Built on a key evacuation route near an elementary school, it bypasses fire, traffic, and environmental reviews. Preserve Greater Golden Hill is organizing—and preparing legal action—to defend the safety and livability of our neighborhood.
A Neighborhood Changed Overnight
On A Street, three historic Craftsman homes—including affordable rentals, some with ADUs—were demolished. In their place, the developer plans a monolithic 8-story, 180-unit building with only 4% affordable housing.
The Greater Golden Hill Community Plan allows a maximum of three stories on this site. This project would tower five stories higher—looming over a nearby elementary school and built directly on a key neighborhood evacuation route.
The Bigger Problem
The developer is using the City’s “Complete Communities” program to bypass local height and density limits. This ministerial process also eliminates key reviews that protect community safety and quality of life.
That means:
No fire safety study
No traffic plan
No Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
And no real chance for community input
In a neighborhood already facing 450+ new units in just ten blocks—along a narrow two-lane evacuation route through High Fire Risk Zones—this project isn’t just oversized. It’s unsafe.
Who Is Behind the A Street Project?
This project is led by CEDARst, a Chicago-based developer. In partnership with Bridge Investment, they secured $40 million in equity capital—describing it as proof of the “strength and opportunity of the San Diego market.” To them, this is an investment opportunity. To us, it’s our community, our safety, and our future at stake.
Preparing a Legal Challenge
Preserve Greater Golden Hill (PGGH) is preparing a legal challenge against the City of San Diego for approving the A Street development without proper oversight. This fight is bigger than one project—it’s about setting a precedence for defending the safety, livability, and future of all of our neighborhoods.
How You Can Help
This case has implications across San Diego. We need your support.
Donate to help fund our legal action (tax-deductible)
Share this story with neighbors and friends
Add Your Name. Strengthen Our Voice.
Unsafe density is threatening the safety and character of Greater Golden Hill. Your signature helps us demand smarter planning, real safety reviews, and responsible development. Sign today—let city leaders know our community is watching.
Fire Safety & the “A” Street Project
Fire safety is a growing concern for residents in Greater Golden Hill—especially with large-scale developments like the proposed 8-story A Street project. In this video, you’ll hear directly from local residents and experts about the risks these dense, oversized buildings pose in a neighborhood with narrow streets, limited access, and aging infrastructure. As the Deputy Chief Fire Marshal has already raised concerns, it's critical that new developments prioritize emergency access and community safety—not just developer profits.
